Marine mine.



P. L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA.

MARINE MINE.

APPLICATION HLEiJ MAYH. 1916. 1,228,753. Patented June 5, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

P. L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA.

MARINE MINE. APPLICATION FILED MAYH. I9l6.

1,228,? 53. Patented June 5, 1917.

3 snsns-nsn 2.

P. L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA.

MARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYII, 1916.

1,228,753. Patented June 5, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIPPO E. D al. FUNGO-GIERA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' mum MINE.

To all whom it may concem: Be it known that I, PHILIrro L. E. DE

FUNco-GrERA, a citizen of Switzerland, and

but which parts shall automatically assume a position of safety if the mine should accidentally become adrift or should be lifted for replanting. A further object is to provide a mine of this character which shall not be subjected to a rotating movement by the action of the water so as to twist the cable to which it is attached, and thereby ultimately break the same from its moorings. l

A further object is to provide a mine of this character which shall be of such exterior configuration as to afford no opportunity for the attachment of marine growths, with consequent corrosion. Further detailed objects will be hereinafter set forth, and will be apparent from the accompanying description.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in the combination of elements herea inafter described and then set forth in the claims.

The inventive idea is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, are shown in the accompanying drawings, but the same are to be taken as illustrative only, and not as defining the scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical central section through one form of my safety contact mine;

Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the container for the priming charge, and Fig. 3" is a vertical central section thereof;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through Specification of Letters Patent.

of the contact plungers for firing the priming charge on contact with the vessel and exploding the main charge of the mine; and

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, 1 is the shell of the mine which, below the water-line, is in the shape of an inverted cone rounded at its bottom and 2 is the dome-shaped top portion of the mine normally above the Water-line. Located in the dome 2 is a cylinder 3 (see Figs. 1 and 4), provided at its top portion with a radial flange 4, by means of which it is secured in a. central opening in the top of the dome, and a cover 5 is placed over the outer open end thereof, and provided with suitable packing. The cylinder 3 and the cover 5 are secured in place by bolts 6. This cylinder is provided with brought into contact therewith. This charge maybe any suitable priming charge, such, for instance, as a combination of dry guncotton, carbon, chlorate of potash and. bismuth.

Suitably secured to the piston 8 is a piston rod 13 extending down centrally through the shell 1 and out through the bottom thereof, where it is provided with a mooring ring 14 of forged steel. Where the piston rod 13 passes through the shell, there is a packing chamber 15, to prevent water from leaking into the interior of the shell, the packing 16 being preferably composed of asbestos and rubber. Projecting centrally upward from the bottom of the shell is a sleeve or cylinder 17, the piston rod '13 passing downward therethrough, and a spring 18 is located within the cylinder between the top of the packing plug 15- and a collar 19 secured Patented June 5,1917. Application filed May 11, 1916. Serial No. 96,8005

on the piston rod 13. The strength of the when no strain is placed upon the mooring ring-14:, the piston rod 13, and with it the piston cup 8, is maintained in elevated position, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The contact plungers 20, of which there are a plurality arranged around the dome or cover 2, are shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 5. These contact plungers arepreferably of steel, and project from the exterior of the dome 2 through the wall thereof, and with their points located in the apertures or slots 7, 7 of the cylinder 3. The outwardly projecting ends of these contact plungers are provided with mushroom-shaped heads 21, and these heads are normally protected by glass domes 22, of sufficient strength to resist a blow of anything less than approximately 100 pounds. These glassi'domes 22 have outwardly projecting flanges 23, which are engaged by inwardly projecting flanges on rings 24: secured to the dome by bolts 25, and are provided with suitable packing.

Surrounding the contact plungers 20 at the points where they pass through the dome are suitable packing or stufiing boxes 26. Bolted to the inside of the wall of the dome are cylinders 27 provided with inwardly turned flanges 28, which fit and serve as guides for the contact plungers, and within these cylinders 27 are springs 29 reacting between the fianges 28 of sald cylinders and collars or pins 30 on the plungers, and serve to hold the plungers retracted with the collars in contact with. the packing boxes 26, the proportion of the parts being such that when the plungers are thus held retracted, their points will enter the slots 7 in the cylinder 3, and when the piston 8 is in the elevated position shown in Fig. l, the points of the contact plungers will rest against the steel wall of said piston, as shown in Fig. 1.

The piston is provided near its upper edge with slots 31, so located that when the piston is depressed, the slots will be immediately opposite the points of the contact plungers, and in order to prevent the piston from turning, which would throw the slots out of register with the points of the plungers, the piston is provided with lugs32 (Fig. 3 which enter slots 33 (Fig. 4:). The glass cup or container 9 for the sulfuric acid is preferably provided with downwardly extending skeleton-like legs or supports 34 for sustaining the cup and preventing it from hearing with too great force upon the priming charge in the steel cylinder. And the piston in turn is provided in its bottom with perforations or openings 35, thereby placing the interior of the piston in open communication with the bursting charge in the casingl of the mine. a

The interior of the mine casing below the waterline is lined with liquid glass as shown at 37, to protect the charge. The burstmg charge 38 may consist of any suitable high explosive, such as tri-.nitro-toluol, wet guncotton or dynamite. "Over the top ofthe bursting charge in the lower portion of the shell or casing is placed a protecting coating of liquid glass .39, and above this, within the dome 2 and surrounding the cylinder 3,

. is a charge of mono-nitro-naphthalene 40.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, the. construction and arrangement of the parts are the same as shown in Figs. "1 to 5 inclusive (the charges, however, not being shown), with the exception of the fact that the shell or casing 1 is cylindrical with rounded or dome-like ends, instead of coni-.

cal, as shown in Fig. 1. The form shown in Fig. 1 will resist hydrostatic pressure to a much greater degree than the form shown in Fig. 6, the collapsible .depth of the former loeing 982 feet, whereas the collapsible depth of the latter is 492 feet.-

For the purpose of preventing rotation of the mine when planted, and thereby twisting the cable, with the possible danger of rupturing the same and casting the mine adrift, the casing is provided with a vertical, radial, exterior fin welded thereto, 36

charge, and the priming charge placed in ,1 a,

position, the spring 18 serves to hold the steel piston 8 in its elevated positlon, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the points of the contact plungers 20 enter the slots 7. In this position, there is no possibility of the contact plungers being forced against the glass cup 9 containing the acid, and fracturing the same. In this condition the mine may be safely handled and planted. When the mine is planted, however, and is anchored to its retaining cable by means of the mooring ring 14, the buoyancy of the mine, wh ch, in the form shown in Fig. 1," averages about 1000 pounds when provided with a 500 pound charge, exerts a pull upon the piston rod, thereby compressing the spring 18, and lowering the piston 8 in the cylinder 3, until the glass cup 9 containing the acid is opposite the slots 7, 7, and is thus exposed to the points of the contact plungers20. In this position, if the glass domes 22 are struck by anything like a piece of floating wood or other light object, they are of such strength as to resist a blow of less than 100 pounds, and the mine will not be exploded. If, however, a contact ismade therewith by a large or heavy object, such as'a vessel, one or more of theglass domes 22 are shattered, and the contact plungers are driven in through the slots 7 fracturing the glass cup 9, and

thus freeing the acid which, coming'ln con tact with the priming charge, acts to immediately detonate the same, and this, in turn,

detonates the mono-nitro-naphthalene in the upper or dome portion of the casing and substantially simultaneously detonates the main charge in the lower part of the casing.

The mono-nitro-naphthalene serves a double function. By its detonation, it serves to pulverize or thoroughly break up the main explosive charge in the lower portion of the casing, which; charge is liable, after standing for a considerable time, to become packed in a solid mass. In addition to this, the detonation of the mono-nitro-naphthalene results in the production of a large volume of dense blackv smoke, heavier than air, and sufiicient to completely envelop a large vessel for a considerable period of time after explosion. This serves to prevent the vessel from takingobservations as to its location,

and hampers rescue work and repairing.

If, after the mine isplanted, it should be desired to take up the same for the purpose of replanting or-removing it, or in case it should accidentally become adrift, the spring 18, acting on the piston rod 13, immediately elevates the piston 8, thereby again shielding the glass vessel containing the acid, and bringing the steel walls of the piston opposite the points of the contact plungers, thus rendering the mine secure against explosion.

It will be understood that the casing is of metal such, for example, as wrought steel,

' and it will be observed that the exterior surface is substantially free from projections or-angles which would afi'ord am anchorage or attaching place for marine growths. The

exterior surface is galvanized.

It will be apparent that that part of my invention which relates to the association of a charge of mono-nitro-naphthalene with a bursting charge is of equal application whether the mine be stationary or be a moving mine such, for example, as a traveling torpedo; it is therefore to be expressly understoodin this connection that the term mine in the definition of this invention is to be construed broadly and generic to all mines whether movable or stationary.

' It will be understood by those experienced in the art that various changes and modifi 'cations may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention. Thus,.it wlllbe apparent that other suitable types of primers may be employed than that specifically described so long as such primer is adaptedtobe fired by inward movement of the contact;- plungers when the piston carrying the priming charge is lowered to the proper position. The invention has been herein described with some particularity, in order that the same .might be understood, but such particular description must not be taken as defining the limits thereof.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a mine, a bursting charge incased in liquid glass.

2. In a mine, the combination of a bursting charge, a priming charge and a charge of mono-nitro-naphthalene.

having anend projecting exteriorly of said casing, and a dome-shaped housing of glass secured to said casing and inclosing said.

projecting end, whereby said housing must be broken before said projecting end may be engaged and actuated.

6. A mine having a bursting charge and a charge of mono-nitro-naphthalene.

7. In a mine, the combination of a casing, a bursting charge therein, a piston in a cylinder within the casing, said cylinder having an aperture in its lateral wall, a piston rod projecting outward through the casing, a

spring acting against said rod, apriming charge carried by said piston, a firing plunger adapted to fire said priming charge through said aperture in one position of said piston, and an anchoring cable connected to said piston rod, whereby the buoyancy of the mine serves to move said priming charge into firing 'position.

8. In a mine, a casing, a bursting charge of high explosive Within the lower part of said casing, a cylinder depending from'the top of said casing and within the same, a piston moving within said casing, a chemical priming charge carried by said piston, a contact firingpin or plunger projecting outward through said casing and having its firing point projecting into an aperture in said cylinder, a piston rod secured to said piston and extending downward through the bursting charge and outward through the-bottom of said casing, a spring normally holding said piston elevated, and means for connecting an anchoring cable to said rod, whereby the priming charge is brought op posite the firing pin or plunger by the pull on the piston rod due to the buoyancy of the mine.

9. In a mine, a casing, a bursting charge on one portion thereof, a charge of mononitro-naphthalene in another portion thereof, and a priming charge so positioned within the casing that when fired it causes the detonation of the mono-nitro-naphthalene.

10. In a mine, a casing, a bursting charge therein, a priming charge within the easing, means carrying said priming charge and normally urged in one direction, a contact plunger rendered inoperative by said means When moved in said direction, and

means operated by thebuoyaney of the mine for moving said priming charge into a position rendering said contact plunger operative.

11. In a mine, a casing, a bursting charge therein, a priming charge within the easing, a piston carrying said priming charge and provided with an aperture, a contact plunger adapted to fire said priming charge through said aperture, a spring normally urging said piston to a position wherein said aperture is out of alinement'with said plunger, and means operated by the buoyancy of the mine for moving said piston to aline said aperture with said plunger.

12. therein, a piston carrying a breakable container for a chemical, a contact plunger adapted to engage and break said container in one position of said piston, a spring normally urging said piston to a position wherein said plunger can not break said container, and means operated by the buoyancy of the mine for moving said piston to a position- 'Wherein said plunger may be operated to break said container.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

PHILIPPO L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA.

In a mine, a casing, a bursting charge 

